1938 Plymouth P6 Deluxe 4 Door Sedan
"It's on display right now. The brilliant new 1938 Plymouth. It celebrates the most outstanding record in automotive history. 10 years ago Plymouth was introduced. People found it has more beauty, safety, and economy. They bought it by the thousands. No car has ever made friends so fast! The 10th year Plymouth is here, the greatest car we've built. Be sure to see it!" From a 1938 print ad. New Plymouths in 1938 were touted as the low priced option to other cars and prices for the 5-passenger sedan started at just $685.
For consignment, a 1938 Plymouth P6 Deluxe 4 door sedan showing 71,159 miles but the true miles are unknown. Owned by our consignor since 1984, this one has some rough edges, but also has a mechanically restored drivetrain according to the owner.
Exterior
A single stage satin finish of Sea Green coats the car just as it would have in about 1942, after a few years of use. The paint here is thick however and covers some rough surfaces so when you get within 20 feet, the imperfections of it all becomes obvious. But from a distance, it's a nice tone and the metal accent work on the grille is ornate and attractive, including the epic tall ship motif on the hood ornament. In profile, the large pontoon front fender takes center stage below a metal accented engine cover and long nose. The rounded roofline surely opens up the interior and a fixed rear quarter window provides light and visibility before the rounded C-pillars rise from the back where a humpback trunk adds visual balance to the full bodied car. There are a few cracked windows that would need to be addressed, and the bumpers and metalwork would benefit from restoration. Along with the paint imperfections mentioned, this otherwise complete car would be a good candidate for a cosmetic restoration.
Interior
Tan cloth covers the door panels and it's certainly seen better days but provides options for some customization. The front bench is covered with a blanket and the frame cloth is tattered, while the back seems to be in better shape but still suffers from tears, chew marks, and discoloration. The steering wheel and dash are complete and wear several shades of brown, while a Trico fan is mounted on the steering column. In the center we find the instrument cluster, just two gauges with six bits of information, wonderfully housed in a metal grille above the choke and throttle levers. A brown knobbed shifter rises from the floor which has a variety of carpeted and rubber mats. The headliner is discolored and loose and the trunk is mostly barren save for the carpeted shelf mat and a can of leftover Valspar paint.
Drivetrain
Behind the engine cover sits a driver quality 201.3ci L-head inline 6 cylinder rated at 82 horsepower. It's fed fuel by a 1-barrel carburetor and set into motion via a 3-speed manual transmission which transfers power to the rear axle and 4.10 gears. Drum brakes are found front and rear and they have been bled and adjusted according to the consignor.
Undercarriage
Driver quality underneath with many years and many miles of grease build up on most major components along with some oil drops on the pan and transmission. There's plenty of surface rust but a welcome lack of major invasive rust. The single exhaust flows through a stock style muffler before exiting out back and leaf springs make up the suspension front and rear.
Drive-Ability
With some fiddling of the throttle and choke, we were able to confirm that indeed, this '38 starts and runs and shifts into gear, taking us onto the test loop to test what limited functionality was normal nearly 90 years ago. Everything on board worked and although not the prettiest cow in the barn, she can make it around the pasture with no problems! While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Good bones top off a list of good qualities on this running project car and while you search for parts and professionals, you can enjoy it on the road for a bit. Statistically speaking, we don't get a lot of vintage Plymouths at that mall and when we do, we're not surprised that the "start up" brand did so well in the 30's. Their unique styling sets them apart from Chevys and Fords of the time. This one is a blank slate for your dream restoration.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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